Chapter 165 (1/2)

"Soon people will rush to Claymore and ask to buy Taylor Roses."

"Gabriel, that pot of roses is probably worth enough to make a wedding dress when you get married."

Gabriel looked down at the pot of roses near her feet. The small pot with a few flowers was going to be that expensive? It just felt too unrealistic. She had just been happy to be given it, and it turned out it was part of such a complicated and well-calculated plan.

'Duchess Claymore is about to become a celebrity in society.'

Gabriel was sure Rubica would become greater than her mother. People were going to be eager to find out everything about her, including what she wore and what she ate.

"Gabriel."

Tatiana woke her up from her thoughts. The countess had fallen asleep since she was tired after hours of talking.

"You are going to write about her, right?"

Gabriel nodded hard. Her next article was going to be about the tea meeting and Duchess Claymore.

"Our source's maid snuck out to question the chef. And don't worry about the housekeeper, I've worked on her myself."

"Shh, Titiana. My mother might hear us."

"It's alright. She's fast asleep."

Titiana poked the countess. She was sleeping soundly and didn't even budge. The two girls had to try hard to not laugh.

The Little Bird's News, which the countess hated so much, was a magazine Titiana, the girl she had picked as his son's wife, was making in secret. Moreover, Gabriel was working on the sharpest column of the magazine.

***

"I am glad that the meeting was successful."

Carl the butler smiled brightly, which he rarely did. It had been the tea meeting he had always been dreaming of. Even though the tables had been almost fully filled with cakes and guests looked for water and juice after taking a sip of tea, it had been a nice meeting.

A famous poet even came to recite a poem, and then they shared their opinions about it… even the tea meetings held in the East Empire couldn't have been as perfect as this.

"I am glad as well. Some even asked where they could buy tea."

"Yes, maybe tea meetings will become famous in this kingdom."

Carl said hopefully. Of course, Rubica had quite different hopes. Several people had asked about Khanna and her shop while complimenting Rubica's dress. Some even said it was too pretty to be worn only at tea meetings. It had been so successful that Rubica couldn't believe she had been so nervous about it.

"Carl, Edgar must have finished working by now, right?"

Before she could finish saying that, a pair of huge hands grabbed her by the waist and lifted her high. It was Edgar, of course. He spun her around as if she had been the lightest thing in the world.

"Ah!"

She yelled, but she was also laughing. The ribbons on her chest fluttered in the wind, and Edgar had to do his best to not be enchanted by the beautiful ribbons and stare at her chest.

"Did you like my gift?"

Rubica recalled Lord Russel's passionate recital and blushed. It had been a poem that so eagerly pleaded for love.

"Did it really have to be that poem?"

"But it was meaningful because of that poem."

"Edgar!"

"You must have not liked Lord Russel's recital. Well, I didn't like the way he looked at you. I must find him right away and make him pay for that."

"Edgar!"

How could he say such a thing with a straight face? Now that he started once, he was going to stop at nothing. He naughtily smiled.

"I guess you didn't like that it was a poem written for someone else. Should I have him write a new poem only for you?"

"Please, stop teasing me."

He probably had said that to tease her as he narrowed his eyes and laughed. His laughter made her heart beat fast. The laughter that was neither too low nor too high. The sound gave her a strange longing feeling. But that thought couldn't last long as Edgar started to kiss her forehead again and again.

"What, what are you doing?"

"You're so pretty."

He said as he kissed her lightly lose hair. That made Rubica shudder as he looked like he would eat her alive at any moment.

"Hmm, hmm."

Carl couldn't look anymore and cleared his throat. That woke Rubica up. What had been they doing in the middle of the garden even if it was dark?

She could feel the servants looking at them and murmuring as they cleared the tables.

"Huh."